Rotary switch housing

ABSTRACT

A housing for a rotary switch having a rotary shaft in which the housing walls are integrally formed of an insulated plastic material, a boss is integrally formed on the top wall of the housing for tightly receiving the rotary shaft, and a knob is fixed to the top of a spindle having a radial skirt terminating in an annular rim at a level below the top of the boss. The switch housing may be further characterized by having a pair of opposed integrally formed upstanding latching ears adapted to engage a pair of mating latch holes in a horizontal mounting plate or wall to hold the switch housing in place against the bottom surface of the wall.

United States Patent 1 1 Preis 1 Apr. 10, 1973 [5 ROTARY SWITCH HOUSING3,469,051 9 1969 Yamada et al ..200/l68 c [76] Inventor: Fritz Preis,c/o Lasko Metal Products, IllC., PO. Box 130, 3 Franklin, Tenn 3.7064Attorney-Harnngton A. ackey [22] Filed: June 22, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT [21]Appl. No.: 265,268 A housing for a rotary switch having a rotary shaftin which the housing walls are integrally formed of an in- 2 sulatedplastic material, a boss is integrally formed on 1 U S Cl 200/168200/168 C the top wall of the housing for tightly receiving the ro- [51]Int. Cl. ..H0lh 9/04 t haft d kn f d t th t f d] [58] FieldofSearch..200/l68 o, 168C t e 6 having a radial skirt terminating in an annularmm at a 5 6] References Cited level below the top of the boss.

The switch housing may be further characterized by UNITED STATES PATENTShaving a pair of opposed integrally formed upstanding 3,456,227 7 1969Paine et a1. ..200/l68 G x latching ears adapted to engage a P Of matinglatch 3,277,739 10/1966 Morse 1 ..200/l68 G x holes n a horizontal munting plate or wall to hold 3,395,260 7/1968 Hamlin ..200/168 G theswitch housing in place against the bottom surface 3,406,367 10/1968Maguire ..200/168 G X of the wall, 3,360,627 12/1967 Wessel .f...200/l68 G 3,337,708 8/1967 Cerveny et a] ..200/ 168 C 2 Claims, 4Drawing Figures ROTARY SWITCH HOUSING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to a rotary switch housing, and more particularly toan insulated plastic rotary switch housing.

Rotary switch housings are numerous in the art. Switch housings made ofinsulated plastic material are also known.

However, by the very nature of switch housings,

there must be an opening therethrough for rotatably receiving the rotaryshaft for actuating the rotary switch. Thus, even where the housing ismade of a minimum number of wall sections, and where care is takeninsealing the joints between the wall sections, nevertheless it isdifficult to seal the rotary shaft opening through the housing and stillpermit the shaft to rotate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION a hole therethrough for tightly and rotatablyreceiving the shaft. Mounted on top of the rotary shaft is an enlargedknob having a solid top surface and an annular skirt declining radiallyoutward to form an annular rim spaced radially outward a substantialdistance from the boss, with the level of the annular rim being belowthe top of the boss.

The switch housing made in accordance with this invention preferably isprovided with a pair of upward projecting slightly resilient latch earsthe bottom ends of which are integrally formed with the sides or bottomwall of the switch housing. The upper ends of the latch ears have upwardinwardly cammed top surfaces and lower outwardly directed catch ledges.Thus, the switch housing is adapted to fit flush against the bottomsurface of a horizontal mounting wall or plate having an opening in thecenter for receiving the upper projecting boss and having a pair oflaterally opposed latch openings through which the latch ears may becammed and held in latched position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevation of theswitch housing made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line 2--2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a horizontal mounting wall tothe bottom of which is secured in latched position, the switch housingdisclosed in FIG. I; and

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, with the switchhousing disclosed in full side elevation and the knob disclosed inphantom.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings inmore detail, the switch housing 10 made in accordance with thisinvention basically comprises a switch capsule 11, a shaft boss 12, aknob 13, and preferably a pair of latch ears l4 and 15.

The capsule 11 includes a top wall 17 and a continuous side wall 18which are integrally formed, such as by molding, from an insulated,self-extinguishing plastic material, such as Lexan 2014-1 16.The shaftboss 12 is also integrally molded with the top wall 17 and forms acylindrical shaft hole 20 extending entirely through the boss 12 tocommunicate with the cavity 21 within the capsule 1 1.

The capsule 11 also includes a bottom wall 22 which is moldedseparately, but is provided with holes of different sizes for fittingover corresponding locater plastic pins 23 and 24 integrally formed withthe side wall 18. After the bottom wall 22 is fitted over the locatorpins 23 and 24, the pins are flattenedby fusing to completely seal thelocator pin holes and completely seal the bottom wall 22 in position toencapsulate rotary switch element 25 and the stationary switch contacts26.

Conductor openings 27 are provided in the wall 18 to permit theinsertion of electrical conductors 28 therethrough for connection withstationary contacts 26. After the conductors 28 are inserted through theconductor holes 27, the holes 27 are appropriately sealed by any type ofplastic insulating fusible material.

The rotary switch element 25 is fixed to the bottom of the rotary shaft30. The rotary shaft 30 is tightly and rotatably received within theshaft hole 20 of the boss 12 and is also adapted to project above thetop surface 31 of the boss 12. Fixed to the top end portion of the shaft30 is a depending socket 32 formed in the bottom surface of the knob 13.

The knob 13 has a solid top surface 33 and forms an annular skirt 34which declines radially outward to terminate in an annular rim 35. It isan important feature of this invention that the rim 35 is not onlyspaced radially outward a substantial distance from the boss 12, butthat the level of the bottom of the rim 35 is below the top surface 31of the boss 12. It will also be noticed, particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2,that the rim 35 projects radially outward beyond the periphery of theside wall 18 of the capsule 11. Thus, the solid top surface 33 of theknob 13 as well as the outward declining skirt 34 protects, not only theboss 12, but the entire switch capsule 11 from the elements of theweather, and particularly rain, even when the rain is directed downwardat angles of as much as 45, or more. Thus, the protective coveringprovided by the knob 13 reduces the concern about sealing the jointsbetween the shaft hole 20 and shaft 30 against the penetration of rain,snow, or moisture in vapor form.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the switch housing 10 is disclosedmounted upon a horizontal mounting wall or plate 37. The plate 37includes a boss hole 38 large enough to receive the upward projectingboss 12 when the capsule 11 is fitted flush up against the bottomsurface of the mounting plate 37. The boss hole 38 may converge asdisclosed in FIG. 3 to receive an upward projecting locater pin 39integrally formed on the top wall 17, if desired.

Also formed through the mounting plate 37 on opposite ends of the bosshole 38 are a pair of latch openings 40 and 41 in substantial verticalalignment with the respective latch ears 14 and 15, when the boss 12 isinserted through the boss hole 38. Each latch ear l4 and has a bottomend portion 42 integrally formed with the outer surface of the capsule11, such as being fused to or molded with the bottom wall 22, adisclosed in FIGS. 1 and 4. The ears 14 and 15 project upward spacedfrom the edge of the capsule l1 and above the top wall 17. The upper endor head of each latch car 14 and 15 has an upward and inward inclinedsurface 44 adapted to cam upward against the edge of each slot 40 and 41to force the respective latch ears l4 and 15 inward. The head of eachlatch ear 14 and 15 is substantially hook-shaped and provided with ahorizontal bottom catch ledge 45 directed outward to engage over the topsurface of the mounting wall 37 as each cam head clears the respectivecatch holes 40 and 41.

The spacing between the top surface of the top wall 17 and each catchledge 45 is substantially equal to the thickness of the mounting plate37, to provide a secure fit of the top wall 17 against the bottomsurface of the mounting plate 37 when the switch housing 10 is inlatched position.

If desired, the outer edge of the latch slot 40 may be provided with anoutward directed recess 47 which extends beyond the outer edge of thecam surface 44 of the latch ear 14, as best disclosed in FIG. 3. Thus, ascrewdriver may be inserted down through the opening 47 to urge the camhead 44 of the latch ear l4 inward to facilitate removal of the latchear 14 from the latch hole 40 to permit unlatching and removing theswitch housing 10 from the plate 37, if desired.

As disclosed in FIG. 4, the knob 13 extends radially outward a distancesufficient to actually protect the holes 38, 40 and 41 to a limiteddegree from rain, snow, and even dust.

Mounting wall or plate 37 could be the top wall in a housing for a fanelectrically connected to the switch housing 10 for control by therotary switch element and knob 13. The wall 37 could be the top wall ofthe housing for any type of electrical appliance controlled by therotary switch element 25 in the switch housing 10.

What is claimed is:

1. A housing for a rotary switch having a rotary shaft,

comprising:

a. a top wall, a bottom wall and a circumferential side wall, integrallyformed of an insulated plastic material and encasing said switch,

b. openings in at least one of said walls for receiving electrical leadsfor connection to said switch,

c. a boss having a top surface integrally formed on,

and projecting upward from, said top wall,

d. said boss having an elongated cylindrical shaft hole therethroughnormal to said top wall and adapted to tightly receive said shaft forrotary movement, said shaft projecting above the top of said boss,

. a knob having a solid top surface and an annular skirt extendingradially outward to define an annular rim, f. means securing the bottomof said knob concentrically to the top of said shaft so that the levelof said rim is below, and spaced radially outwardly of, the top surfaceof said boss.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said top wall is flat sothat said switch housing is adapted to fit flush against the bottomsurface of a relatively thin, horizontal, mounting wall having a holetherethrough to permit said boss to project upward therethrough, andhaving a pair of cam slots spaced apart a distance slightly greater thanthe transverse dimension of the switch housing and on opposite sides ofthe boss hole, said housing further comprising a pair of upstandinglatch ears having bottom end portions integrally formed with said bottomwall, said latch ears projecting upward and terminating in latch hooksspaced above said top wall, each latch hook having a laterally outwardprojecting bottom ledge and upper converging cam surfaces, the materialof said latch ears being sufficiently resilient to permit inward flexingof said latch ears so that said upper cam surfaces will cam upward andinward through said latch openings and said bottom ledges will catchover the edges of said latch openings to lock said switch housingagainst the bottom of said mounting wall.

1. A housing for a rotary switch having a rotary shaft, comprising: a. atop wall, a bottom wall and a circumferential side wall, integrallyformed of an insulated plastic material and encasing said switch, b.openings in at least one of said walls for receiving electrical leadsfor connection to said switch, c. a boss having a top surface integrallyformed on, and projecting upward from, said top wall, d. said bosshaving an elongated cylindrical shaft hole therethrough normal to saidtop wall and adapted to tightly receive said shaft for rotary movement,said shaft projecting above the top of said boss, e. a knob having asolid top surface and an annular skirt extending radially outward todefine an annular rim, f. means securing the bottom of said knobconcentrically to the top of said shaft so that the level of said rim isbelow, and spaced radially outwardly of, the top surface of said boss.2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said top wall is flat sothat said switch housing is adapted to fit flush against the bottomsurface of a relatively thin, horizontal, mounting wall having a holetherethrough to permit said boss to project upward therethrough, andhaving a pair of cam slots spaced apart a distance slightly greater thanthe transverse dimension of the switch housing and on opposite sides ofthe boss hole, said housing further comprising a pair of upstandinglatch ears having bottom end portions integrally formed with said bottomwall, said latch ears projecting upward and terminating in latch hooksspaced above said top wall, each latch hook having a laterally outwardprojecting bottom ledge and upper converging cam surfaces, the materialof said latch ears being sufficiently resilient to permit inward flexingof said latch ears so that said upper cam surfaces will cam upward andinward through said latch openings and said bottom ledges will catchover the edges of said latch openings to lock said switch housingagainst the bottom of said mounting wall.